Di Maria Reflects on His Career and the Legacy of Ronaldo and Messi

omidbasir- Veteran forward Ángel Di María had a notable four-year stint alongside Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo at Santiago Bernabéu, from 2010 to 2014. During this time, he celebrated victories in La Liga and the Champions League, gaining a unique perspective on Ronaldo’s many qualities.

In an interview with AS, Di María reflected on the lasting impression Ronaldo left on him, stating, “Yes. In terms of professionalism, Cris is number one by far. His work ethic, his ability to maintain his level, and his relentless pursuit of excellence while competing with Lionel Messi were truly commendable. However, his era coincided with Messi’s, which significantly complicated his accolades.”

While Ronaldo has secured five Ballon d’Or awards, he has often found his achievements overshadowed by Messi’s remarkable tally of eight. Both players continue to excel in their respective leagues, with Ronaldo at Al-Nassr and Messi at Inter Miami, securing their places among football’s elite.

Di María has consistently ranked Messi at the pinnacle of all-time greats, reiterating his belief when asked about Messi’s superiority over Ronaldo: “Cris was all about hard work and effort to be number one, but Messi, relaxing with mate in the locker room, demonstrated a divine gift for being the best.”

Former Argentina player and coach César Luis Menotti once remarked that Di María deserved to be mentioned alongside Messi and Diego Maradona in discussions about Argentina’s greatest players. Di María humbly responded, “At the time, I was very grateful to César for those words, but I wasn’t even close to them because they belonged to a different world. It was a very kind compliment, and I expressed my thanks when I eventually met him, but I am well aware of the distance between us.”

At 37 years old, Di María has returned to his roots at Rosario Central and remains closely connected to his former clubs. Real Madrid continues to attract significant attention, particularly with the rising star Kylian Mbappé, who is anticipated to claim his own Ballon d’Or in the near future.

Di María commented on Mbappé’s impact, stating, “Kylian has been among the best in the world for years. Team titles certainly influence individual accolades, but he proves daily that he belongs among the greats. Today, he is the best. Once he found his playing style, he became a game-changer.”

As the 2026 World Cup approaches, with matches set to commence on June 11 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Di María has announced his retirement from international football. He expressed no regrets about his decision, explaining, “It’s not that I don’t want to; I feel I have completed a cycle. I achieved everything I aimed for, and a new generation is coming up behind me. I believe it was time to step away. After the Qatar World Cup, I made the decision, although I was persuaded to play in the last Copa America. It ended beautifully with us becoming champions, and it was my time. Now it’s someone else’s turn.”

As the global crown that Argentina secured in 2022 is up for grabs once more, Di María will watch as an interested observer.